On the day of your PRK surgery, you may be excited and nervous at the same time. We, at Mandel Vision®, believe that if you know what to expect, your anxiety can be greatly relieved. Remember, anxiety is the fear of the unknown, so you will be much more comfortable if you are fully informed prior to your PRK surgery.

When you check in for your PRK surgery, you will first be greeted by our receptionist, Danielle, who will call laser vision consultant, Missy Grohne, to the front desk to get you started on your big day. After making sure that you have completed your informed consent and payment has been finalized, you will be escorted to the Wavefront room. We believe our high success rate is in large part because we take time on the day of surgery to acquire the most up-to-date measurements of your eye. This analysis will be used by Dr. Mandel to design your eye for your customized treatment. After Dr. Mandel reviews the results and is satisfied with his findings, you will be sent to the waiting room to await your procedure. You will be asked not to read in the office, as it can affect your results.

Next, our laser technician, Gabrielle Suh, will call you into the laser suite for your surgery. After confirming your name, you will be seated in the laser chair. Before you enter, the laser is calibrated and all of the tools needed for your procedure are sterilized and prepared. Your eyelid area will receive a disinfectant preparation and drops to numb your eye will be instilled. You will be given a teddy bear to hold to make the process more comfortable and you will hear music in the background.

Dr. Mandel will enter the room and confirm your measurements prior to treatment. He will be talking to you throughout the procedure to help you relax, but his concentration is always on your procedure. Next, Dr. Mandel will ask you to open your eye and focus on a flashing light. A lid holder will keep your eye open and you will feel a mild sensation on your eyes followed by a vibration. This will last about 2 minutes. At this point, you will hear the sound of the laser and notice the smell of the laser gases. After less than a minute of laser time, in most cases, you will feel the sensation of cool water, followed by eye drops being instilled. Then a bandage soft contact lens will be inserted for comfort. The whole procedure, in Dr. Mandel’s hands, lasts about 3 and a half minutes..